New Delhi, April 11
Armed with the high court order of March 29, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss has removed AIIMS Director P. Venugopal as head of the cardiothoracic Surgery Department, appointing Prof A. Sampat Kumar to the post.

Prof Sampat Kumar, who is the next seniormost professor in the cardiothoracic Surgery Department of AIIMS, will now be the head of department.

The minister, who has had a running battle with the AIIMS Director, shot off a letter to Prof Venugopal yesterday, saying that the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court on March 29 had ruled against his continuance as professor and head of department of cardiothoracic Vascular Surgery and there was a direction that appropriate order be passed.

Dr Ramadoss said in pursuance of the court order, Prof A. Sampat Kumar, who is the next seniormost, had been made head of the department.

Ramadoss said “in pursuance of the court order Prof Sampat Kumar, who is the next senior most, has been made head of department”.

According to Mukul Gupta, who is AIIMS lawyer representing the minister, Venugopal was clearly directed by the High Court that he could not hold two posts and had terminated his position as professor.

“This is not just a contempt of court, but also abuse of authority on Venugopal’s part. This is a good reason to sack him now,” said senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan, who represented NGO ‘Centre for Public Interest Litigation’ that had filed the petition against Venugopal.

On March 29, the Delhi High Court held that the noted heart surgeon could not hold two posts and terminated his position as professor in the department.